Treatment options in autism

1) Is autism a treatable disease or what should be understood when talking about autism treatment?

Since the cause of autism is not known exactly, there are no sharp and valid treatment methods that can cure the disease, that is, bring it to the same level as its peers.

However, there are many neurological, cognitive (mental) and behavioral problems specific to autism, and these problems impair the quality of life of both the child and his family.

Neurological problems such as balance problems, intellectual disability, delayed or inappropriate speech may be observed. Cognitively; Because they are closed to the outside, they are also closed to learning, they are indifferent to the environment to the extent that they cannot even express their own needs. Behavior problems are the most tiring for the family. In autistic children, senseless and repetitive behaviors such as excessive activity, clapping, turning around, insomnia, incomprehensible anger, inappropriate screams, etc. may occur. Although the basic features of autism are the same in every child; Apart from these features, very different problems are encountered in every child.

In conclusion, when talking about the treatment of autism; Elements such as strengthening the child’s communication with his environment to meet his own basic needs, solving certain behavioral problems, normalizing the child’s sleep and eating patterns should be understood.

2) What kind of treatment methods are being tried for Autistic Disorder and what are the benefits of these treatments for patients?

Over a hundred treatment methods have been tried for fifty years and are still being tried. These methods; If we list them under general headings starting from the most frequently used ones:

– The most frequently applied treatment group in the treatment of autism is standard special education treatments and is applied in approximately 70% of autistic children. Special education methods such as combined education modules, social skills training, visual materials, behavior education techniques are used to strengthen the child’s cognitive functions and communication. These methods are; These are treatments aimed at revealing the mental potential of the autistic child as much as possible and strengthening his communication with his environment. The most common treatment for autistic people is speech therapy. Music therapy is also one of the standard special education techniques.

– The second most frequently applied group is pharmacological treatments, and half of autistic children use drugs. Dozens of drugs have been used so far to overcome the behavioral problems encountered in autism and to support the mental functions of the child, and each of them has been of limited benefit to some problems in autism. Melatonin in sleep problems, epilepsy drugs in seizures, almost all of the psychiatric drugs known depending on the type of behavioral problems, some antibiotics for intestinal flora, some enzymes as digestive regulators, secretin, essential fatty acids and probiotics, dimethylglycine, combined vitamin therapy, also alone C. , A and B6 vitamins, L-glutamine, magnesium support, immunoglobulin with the thought that the immune system is affected in autism, and many other pharmacological agents have been used and are being used to date.

– Special diets are tried by parents in an average of a quarter of autistic children. The hypothesis that various substances consisting of gluten and casein can cause autism has been very popular, and diets that do not contain gluten or casein have been applied by parents. Likewise, the Feingold diet and diets that do not contain yeast are examples of special diets.

– Therapy techniques aimed at creating some physiological changes in autistic children, some of which are applied with mediator devices, have also been developed and are used frequently, although their effectiveness has not been fully proven. The most widely used of these methods is nerve feedback (neurobiofeedback) therapy. It is a form of treatment aimed at directing the child’s own brain waves in front of the screen with some video games that symbolize brain waves and easing some of their problems in this way. In autistic children; Sensorial integration, auditory and visual integration techniques aimed at improving sensory communication are applied in some centers. Bolles sensorial learning method, which aims to stimulate the relevant sensory brain areas through sensory stimulation, and thus to transform the child’s sensory difficulties into unconsciousness. Examples are various physiological therapy modules, such as colored filters (Irlen lenses) to change the contrast between pages and words, interactive metronome therapy to increase the speed of information processing, rhythmic conversion therapy based on the idea that body functions are in a natural rhythm and this rhythm changes in autistics.

– Child with autism; There are also relationship-oriented or communication-oriented therapy techniques applied in special education and care process; Techniques such as prolonging the breastfeeding period, soft touches, hug techniques that support close contact with the parents, communication time on flat ground to create an opportunity for natural communication, regular joint activities are the main examples and are tried in the special education process in about twenty percent of autistic children.

– Except for those listed; According to the family’s possibilities and the therapist’s abilities, so many therapy methods have been tried at different frequencies; Azrin 24-hour toilet training, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, acupuncture, dance therapy, therapy with dolphins, influencing the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid through massage to the skull bones, vagus nerve stimulation, homeopathy methods, aromatherapy, that various substances accumulated in the body can cause autistic symptoms and that the autistic child’s body does not Chelation therapies aimed at eliminating substances are methods that have been tried at relatively low rates and have limited effectiveness.

3) What is the reason for the emergence of so many treatment methods? According to which criteria do families choose which treatment method?

Autism; It is a clinical picture that was defined fifty years ago. Since that day; More than a hundred treatment methods have been tried by families all over the world, and they are still being tried.

1) Some treatment methods based on some of the theories put forward from time to time regarding the cause of the disease have been tried and seen as a beacon of hope by the parents, although they have limited benefits. Since it is a disease for which there is no definite treatment; parents resort to treatment methods that they think may be beneficial for the child, as long as they believe it is beneficial.

2) The severity and clinical difficulties of autism vary from child to child. In Asperger’s Disorder, more conservative treatments are sufficient in high-functioning (or mild) autistic patients because the intelligence level is normal and close to normal, while more than one treatment is sometimes applied simultaneously in autistic patients with severe impairment.

3) Since the problems in autism are many and vary from child to child; It is a multi-faceted treatment approach that is most appropriate for the child, requiring several treatments to be administered at the same time or at different times.

4) How should the most appropriate treatment be selected?

First of all, the child’s own needs determine how the treatment of the autistic child will be carried out. A child suspected of being autistic should first undergo a child psychiatric examination; The level of development should be fully revealed, and a multifaceted and long-term treatment program should be put forward after the problems of the child and the difficulties of the family are determined in detail. Parents should know that the treatment of autism is a long process that requires patience, and within the current possibilities of medicine, the aim of the treatment is to increase the quality of life of the autistic child and his family as much as possible.